Roni’s face lit with excitement. “Then come with me. Who knows, maybe we’ll both get to fulfill our fantasies and then we’ll win the bet.”
Lydia frowned. “Is this cheating? Should we tell Jeanette?”
The waiter came with their checks. Roni winked at him and he sauntered off practically whistling. “It’s not cheating,” Roni replied. “Stop worrying.”
Lydia couldn’t believe what she’d just agree to. Had she lost her mind completely?
Roni stood and grabbed her purse from the seat beside her. Lydia followed suit. As they left the restaurant, Roni turned to her and said, “No second guessing this. It’ll be fine, you’ll see.”
“Friday nights I usually watch all my shows that I’ve recorded throughout the week.”
“Quit making lame excuses. Come over to my place early so we can get you ready.”
Lydia laughed. “Uh, we’re so not the same size, Roni.”
Roni hugged her, then stepped back. “Don’t be such a pest. Just come over and I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Fine, but Roni?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m only going for the drinks and music, and maybe because I’m a little curious, but that’s it.”
“We’ll see,” she replied, then walked away, waving at Lydia over her shoulder.
3
Lydia still couldn’t believe she’d agreed to go to a bondage and submission club. What had she been thinking? Roni had always been good at talking her into things, but this time Lydia could very well be in over her head.
After Roni wiggl
ed an agreement out of her to go with her on Friday night, Lydia had gone back to her apartment, intent on sticking to her plan to take the rest of the day off. The responsible thing would’ve been to go back to work. Dane could be looking for her replacement even now. As she sipped her diet cola and stroked her spoiled cat, Socrates, her mind conjured up the image of Dane just before she’d stomped out. His sensual smile and the heat in his gaze could melt a glacier, but why had it been directed at her? The doorbell rang, disrupting her thoughts. Lydia was only too grateful for the interruption. If she kept thinking about Dane Gentry she’d surely go insane.
She moved Socrates to the cushion next to her, smiling when the sleepy animal let out a disgruntled growl. “I’ll give you a treat later,” Lydia promised, before heading toward the door. As she opened it, her heart nearly stopped beating.
“Mr. Gentry,” Lydia cried, “what are you doing here?”
“Dane,” he gritted out. “Will you ever call me Dane?”
Lydia almost smiled at his disgruntled tone. “Probably not.”
He pointed behind her. “Care to let me in?”
She should tell him to go away—the last thing she needed was his powerful presence destroying her control and invading her personal space—but a naughty voice in her head urged her to take a chance. She stepped aside. “Please, come in.”
Thanks,” he murmured as he moved around her, his hard body brushing against her curves. God, the man was deliciously muscular. Just that simple touch and she could feel the strength beneath his black slacks and white dress shirt.
Electricity arced between them and Lydia had to force herself to keep it cool, casual. He’d most likely come to see if she really was planning to return to work. His visit had nothing whatsoever to do with lusty cravings.
“Can I get you a drink?” Lydia asked, as she watched him move about her living room. She tried to pry her eyes away from his firm ass, but she wasn’t very successful. She was only human after all. “I-I have cola and iced-tea or I can make a pot of coffee, if you prefer.” Damn, she was babbling.
“Nothing for me, but thanks,” he said as he looked at her bookshelves, then his attention caught on the pictures hanging on one wall. There was only one predivorce family photo, the rest were pictures of herself with her best friends Jeanette and Roni.
“Is this your mom and dad?”
She really didn’t want to discuss her parents. “Yes.”
“You have your dad’s eyes.”